[Editor's Note: This post contains spoilers for the November 11 episode of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire."]

We have three episodes left in this season, and if Sunday's “The Milkmaid’s Lot” is any indication, it looks like Nucky Thompson will be headed into battle alone.

I blame Billie Kent.

After last week’s explosive end that saw Billie lose her life, to say that we were left this week with a Nucky who hadn’t quite recovered would be an understatement.

Turned out the blast left Nucky with a concussion that led to tinnitus and mental confusion. Nuck’s hazy mind was horrible timing, with Gyp Rosetti and Joe Masseria ready to take him down.

Gyp made a return back to his psychotic self after more or less hitting rock bottom lately. He basically took over Tabor Heights, buying the silence from everyone in the town and giving the sheriff a nice beating. Oh, and he managed to form a small army with Masseria’s blessing. Gyp has never been more of a threat than he is now.

One guy we won’t have to worry about was George Remus. In probably the most comical scene of the episode, Remus played a good ol' game of tag with some Prohibition agents in house.

What followed were a few third person references from Remus, which were finally cut off by Esther Randolph with the line of the night. After Remus admitted to a connection and paper trail leading to Harry Daugherty, she snapped, “Then Randolph would be very interested in seeing them.” CLASSIC.

Let’s just say Julianne Nicholson has been killing this character, and somehow I found myself going from anti-Randolph to #TeamRandolph. Looking forward to her taking Daugherty down.

Speaking of folks headed for bad outcomes, let's discuss Owen Sleater and Margaret. In between tending to Nucky, these two decided to have secret talks about running away together. Call me a hater, but that whole “lets run away together” thing was just plain lame. This has to be a set-up to Nucky offing one of them in a jealous rage, no?

Apparently Owen wants out of the business in a couple of years, and when he leaves he plans on taking Ms. Thompson with him. G’luck, Owen. Your character could be killed off in a shocking heartbeat - just ask Michael Pitt.

Jimmy’s bro Richard Harrow has been one of the brighter points for me this season. Granted, he hasn’t quite been the killing machine we’re used to, but you can’t help but be amped for his newfound love life.

Despite the fact that there was no action in Richard’s storyline, he did get some action, and by action I mean a kiss that left lipstick on his mask after a successful date with Julia Sagorsky. Sorry Vince Vaughn, but apparently Richard is a fantastic dancer, and he showed as much last night.

Of course, when he got home, Mama Jimmy was there to ruin things by blaming him for Tommy stumbling in on a peep show. Whatever, in a perfect world, this season will close out with Richard cremating the body of Mama Jimmy after he killed her. A boy can dream, right?

But back to reality, or Nucky’s skewed version of it. The episode followed a man trying to conduct his business while literally being out of his mind. There were awkward exchanges with just about everyone, including Chalky White, whom Nucky thought was a shoe shiner. There was the weird birthday party for Emily that almost bordered on creepy.

Yet the biggest loss Nucky took last night was when he attempted to round up the different bosses, including Arnold Rothstein, to try and form an army to go up against Gyp and Masseria.

Let’s just say things didn’t go well for Nucky, and with Rothstein’s line that they wished him “all the luck in the world” going forward, you got the sense our protagonist has never been more powerless.

Meanwhile, Gyp and Masseria met for a chat in which the latter told the former that if he can run an operation (i.e., setting off bombs that actually kill the intended target), then one day he might become a general.

With the men on his side and his opponent rendered more or less useless, the war is Gyp’s to lose.

What are you guys looking forward to seeing in the last three episodes?

soundoff(37 Responses)

With any luck, the casting directors will be busy before the next season (or is there a next season?).

I've love to see Nucky come out on top – Owen and Margaret are the classics, Nucky gives them everything and then somehow he's the bad guy? They went in like everyone else with eyes open. WIll he kill them before or after Gyp? The closing shot of the season may just be Nucky wearing Gyp's guys like a necktie. How do the Chicago guys come into play on this? Torrio didn't come, but maybe Al Capone wants to spill blood with Nucky. And most importantly, how does Nucky taking over Mellon's whiskey factory change the equation?

Also, with the assorted historical characters thrown in – you know Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky and Al Capone all make it through the 20s, not sure when Capone went down, but it was much later. Rothstein is murdered in 1928. Was it Nucky?

and so will his other friends...he's a wonderful guy who was misread by alot of people and we will continue to give him respect when we see him at all times...i will make it a point now of saying hello when he is there and i will make sure all the girls make it a point of saying hello to louie....

So glad you said last 3 episodes OF THE SEASON. From watching last night, they didn't say – OF THE SEASON. Just – Last 3 episodes. I was figuring this was going to be a – slam bam, thank you, ma'am – ending.

Last season Nucky went to Ireland and came back with several cases of Thompson machine guns. So far we have only seen Gyp's men with shotguns and pistols. Even though Nucky does not have the support of Rothstein and company, I would take 10 men with Thompson machine guns against 50 men with shotguns and pistols any day. At some point the machine gun came into favor. I believe it was Al Capone who made it popular. Will Nucky supply Capone with the machine guns if Capone supplies the men to use them.

Having Richard cut the head of the snake (Gyp), seems logical. So does getting Capone involved from Chicago. However both Richard and Al were very close friends of Jimmy. I just don't see how that storyline could work. Maybe Nucky gets Owen to import some IRA fighters with the machine guns?

I think Nucky will turn to Mellon for help again. I hope Richard takes Tommy and leave Gillian, she doesn't want Tommy anyway. Never wanted to be a Grandma at a young age. Margaret & Owen can have each other, bring back Lucy. I knew Van Alden was gonna become a moonshiner because he was STAUNCHLY against prohibition. It was too big for him to fight.

Clearly, Nucky needs some muscle. I predict he will reach out to Capone, and get the Chicago mob connection going with New Jersey. Wish Owen would turn back into an Irish killer soon. And we need more Chalky, and less Margaret.

I think that it's easy to see AR getting dragged back into the fight regardless of what he has said. Rosetti has named him as a target on more than one occasion. You don't always get to choose when and where.

As for Harrow, this episode really made me smile when he was dancing and got the kiss. He's so close to humanity right now. I'm sure something will happen that will drag him back into the war.

More George Muller less Margaret plz. She's a great character and always steps up when she needs to, but honestly I find her story line sort of dull this season. I don't see things working out with Owen either.

So how will Nucky get out of this situation? I think the war spills over into a fourth season. I see it getting bloody and Mr. Thompson being on the run for a while. Maybe Owen will build a bomb or two just for Gyp. It would probably be the most effective way to deal with him. That or a Mr. Harrow special right below the eye. If Richard did that for hire maybe he could run off with his lady friend.

I think its a real shame the way things are turning in boardwalk empire. I mean this show used to be good. principally the first season. the second was alright.but this one is just miserable and SO predictable really. i don't get it. the writers have at their disposal the best gangster story america ever had and this is the best they can do?What about the truth?maybe u could try this.having to invent idiots like gyp that never existed just so nucky thompson the politician can play the mobster? i don't know it just looks forced and stupid. I taught the whole season was bad but for me the moment when i said its over was when i had to see babettes on fire....stupid, very stupid

Oh boy...what a [Nuck]kle head night it was...I'll get back to Nucky later....Gyp? Can we just go ahead with the psychosis diagnosis? He has lost his ever loving mind... however in a different light than Mr. Thompson...

Margaret/Sleater? Really? Do you really want a response to that nonsense? We all know that ain't gonna work out..

You wrote:
"Whatever, in a perfect world, this season will close out with Richard cremating the body of Mama Jimmy after he killed her. A boy can dream, right?"

I say....You think??? I'm telling ya'll "again"...Mr. Harrow will be the last one standing in that house...

Back to Mr. Psychotic himself...I see lil brother [Eli] stepping in on this one...Eli would love nothing better than to take out Gyp...but you have to wonder if Gyp has 'other' frenemies...maybe Nucky will not have to form an army afterall...
Gyp...a Napoleon hat? you are a sic puppy....

Looking forward to the next episode...one episode at a time is enough for me, especially as it appears everyone is losing their minds...literately speaking! lmao

Just wonder if anyone noticed... At the start of each show Nucky is standing in the water and bottles of Canadian booze are floating in and washing up on shore. Problem is that full bottles don't float...